System and Method for Utilizing a User&#39;s Mobile Phone Account as a Funding Source

ABSTRACT

The invention generally pertains to a method for providing a purchase incentive associated with the purchase of a product bundle to an end user using a mobile device connected to a transaction server over a mobile phone network. By way of example, a secure connection is created over the mobile phone network to exchange information between the transaction server and the mobile device. The end user selects the desired product bundle level—as a result receives a purchase incentive, i.e., cash rebate, remittance, refund and/or other monies—and delivery method using the mobile device. The mobile device connects to a third party payment processor over a secure connection, which charges the end user for the purchase of the product bundle. Specifically, the third party payment processor charges the purchase to the user&#39;s mobile phone account with a mobile carrier. Once the end user is notified of the successful purchase transaction, the desired value is delivered to the end user using the user selected delivery method.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Aspects of embodiments described herein apply to a unique implementationof smart phone application software, mobile payment processingplatforms, and other technologies to facilitate the offering of instantand/or fast response cash rebates where the purchase that entitled thefast response cash rebate is funded solely through the consumer's mobilephone account, and the fast response cash rebate is not applied directlyto the purchase that entitled said rebate, but is instead paid to theconsumer through means of electronic funds transfer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Mobile phone software applications have become increasingly popular inour society through the use of web-based and mobile technologies. Thereare numerous software applications available on every smart phoneplatform for work and fun, from the financial to the recreational,including, more specifically, applications directed to both thefinancial industry and on-line shopping and purchases. Given the factthat more and more people are willing to conduct commerce over theirmobile phone, the market for mobile phone financial transactions istaking off.

Currently, certain mobile phone software applications allow customers,who have either linked a bank account, debit card, credit card, creditline, prepaid debit card, gift card, or payment service such as PayPal,to make purchases within a mobile application or website. For example,applications exist that allow mobile users to transfer funds or makepayments via their handset by entering in mobile telephone numbers.Taking mobile phone purchases a step further, certainproviders/platforms have adopted a “Bill-To-Carrier” model wherebypurchases made are billed to the users' mobile phone account and thenbilled to the user by the carrier. Significantly, under such a model,links to credit cards or bank accounts are not required.

So, against that backdrop, a need currently exists for a mobile phoneapplication that utilizes a bill-to-carrier model for providing a mobilephone user with cash or a cash equivalent such as a refund, cash rebate,remittance, and/or other monies.

BRIEF SUMMARY

In one embodiment, a computer implemented method for providing cash toan end user using a mobile device connected to a transaction server overa mobile phone network is provided. First, a secure connection iscreated over a network to exchange information between the transactionserver and the mobile device. Once the secure connection is created, thetransaction server identifies the mobile number and the mobile carrierassociated with the mobile device. The mobile device then executes themobile funding software, which performs a series of interactive stepsand effects communication with both the transaction server and a thirdparty payment processor. The mobile device then receives and transmitsidentification and account information associated with the end user tothe transaction server. In certain instances, the transaction serversaves the information associated with the end user on a storage devicecoupled to the transaction server. The transaction server then verifiesat least a portion of the information associated with the end user.

Continuing with the mobile funding software, using the mobile device,the user selects the desired value and delivery method. The mobilefunding software then connects the mobile device to a third partypayment processor to charge the end user for the desired value. Ifsuccessful, the transaction server transmits a message to the mobiledevice to notify the end user that the transaction was approved andprocessed. Finally, the desired value is delivered to the end user usingthe user selected delivery method.

The foregoing and other features, utilities and advantages of theinvention will be apparent from the following more particulardescription of various embodiments of the invention as illustrated inthe accompanying drawings and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic view of a typical hosting/accessenvironment for implementing the illustrated embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 1A illustrates a screen shot of a user interface display screenimage on a mobile device that is returned when a user accesses themobile funding software application associated with the illustratedembodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 2-8 shows exemplary user interface display screen images showingthe computer implemented method of the illustrated embodiment of themobile funding software application present invention; and

FIG. 9 shows the illustrated embodiment of the present invention in flowchart form.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth,such as examples of specific shapes, components etc., in order toprovide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will beapparent, however, to one skilled in the art that the present inventionmay be practiced without these specific details. In other instances,well known components or methods have not been described in detail, butrather in general terms in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring thepresent invention. Thus, the specific details set forth are merelyexemplary. The specific details may be varied from and still becontemplated to be within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Reference to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particularfeature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with theembodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. Theappearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in thespecification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.It will also be understood that when an element is referred to as being“connected” or “coupled” to another element, it can be directlyconnected or coupled to the other element or intervening elements may bepresent. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directlyconnected” or “directly coupled” to another element, there are nointervening elements present.

Some portions of the detailed descriptions that follow are presented interms of algorithms and symbolic representations of operations on databits within a computer memory. These algorithmic descriptions andrepresentations are the means used by those skilled in the dataprocessing arts to most effectively convey the substance of their workto others. In general terms, an algorithm is conceived to be aself-consistent sequence of steps leading to a desired result. The stepsof an algorithm require physical manipulations of physical quantities.Usually, though not necessarily, these quantities take the form ofelectrical or magnetic signals capable of being stored, transferred,combined, compared and otherwise manipulated. It has proven convenientat times, principally for reasons of common usage, to refer to thesesignals as bits, values, elements, symbols, characters, terms, numbersor the like.

It should be borne in mind, however, that all of these and similar termsare to be associated with the appropriate physical quantities and aremerely convenient labels applied to these quantities. Unlessspecifically stated otherwise as apparent from the following discussion,it is appreciated that throughout the description, discussions utilizingterms such as “processing” or “computing” or “calculating” or“determining” or “displaying” or the like, refer to the action andprocesses of a computer system, or similar electronic computing device,that manipulates and transforms data represented as physical(electronic) quantities within the computer system's registers andmemories into other data similarly represented as physical quantitieswithin the computer system memories or registers or other suchinformation storage, transmission or display devices. It is furthercontemplated within the scope of this invention that calculations canalso be done mentally, manually or using processes other thanelectronic.

The present invention also relates to one or more apparatus forperforming the operations herein. This apparatus may be speciallyconstructed for the required purposes, or it may comprise ageneral-purpose computer selectively activated or reconfigured by acomputer program stored within the computer. Such a computer program maybe stored in a machine readable storage medium, such as, for example,any type of disk including floppy disks, optical disks, CD-ROMs,magnetic-optical disks, read-only memories (ROMs), random accessmemories (RAMs), EPROMs, EEPROMs, magnetic or optical card, or any typeof media suitable for storing electronic instructions and coupled to acomputer system bus.

The algorithms and displays presented and described herein are notinherently related to any particular computer or other apparatus orapparatuses. Various general-purpose systems may be used with programsin accordance with the teachings, or it may prove convenient toconstruct more specialized apparatus to perform the required methodsteps. The required structure for a variety of these systems will becomereadily apparent from the description alone. In addition, the presentinvention is not described with reference to any particular programminglanguage, and accordingly, a variety of programming languages may beused to implement the teachings of the illustrated invention.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a typical hosting/access environment forimplementing the present invention. In one embodiment, aspects of thepresent invention may be hosted on a secure transaction server 30coupled to a storage device 35. Typically, storage device 35 is adatabase configured to store multiple records of users of the websitedescribed herein. In one embodiment, database 35 is a secure databasecapable of storing information in accordance with privacy laws of theUnited States and countries that allow access to the website of thepresent invention. In most cases, transaction server 30 is coupled tomobile phone network 5 so as to provide access to users of the site ofthe present invention. Users may access the website of the presentinvention in several different ways. In one embodiment, a user may usehis or her his or her PDA device or cell phone 10 to access theinformation located on transaction server 30 and stored in storagedevice 35. In another embodiment, a user may choose to use a tabletdevice 10 to access the information on secure transaction server 30. Inany event, any suitable device may be used to access transaction server30, including a direct connection not connected to mobile phone network5, so long as the device is capable of running a unique softwareapplication embodying one or more aspects of the illustrated inventionand the associated connection is secure and configured to send andreceive information from the secure transaction server.

In addition to a user of the software application described herein, asite administrator may access the transaction server 30 through a remoteaccess over the mobile phone network 5 or a direct communicationconnection 55 using a personal computer 50 or other secure device toremotely update website content. Site administer may take allappropriate steps to facilitate the administration of the transactionsof the software application that occur at the transaction server 30,including monitoring for security, troubleshooting, programming,updating, etc.

Continuing with the illustrated embodiment, user device 10 may alsoaccess a third party website resident on a remote server 40 throughmobile phone network 5. In accordance with aspects of the illustratedembodiments, a third party website is provided to facilitatetransactions on behalf of the software application of the presentinvention. For example, for purposes of the illustrated embodiment, athird party website may be the Google Play Store, which is configured toprocess a purchase on behalf of a software application and bill thepurchase to a mobile carrier such as Verizon Wireless. One of ordinaryskill in the art will appreciate that any third party website and/ormobile carrier may be used in accordance with the illustrated embodimentof the present invention without departing from the intended scope andspirit of underlying principles of operation. Accordingly, the processassociated with payment processing will not be described in detailherein.

FIGS. 1A through 8 illustrate screen shots of exemplary user interfacedisplay screen image that may be provided or “served” by server 30 toone or more PDA devices 10 or tablets 20 through a software applicationresident on devices 10, 20 to facilitate the environment of the presentinvention. It should be understood that many other appropriate userinterface display screens may be provided in addition to or instead ofthe illustrated screens, which are provided only as examples.Appropriate modifications may be made to the content of the userinterface display screens for transactions involving items other thanthe content illustrated and described with respect to FIGS. 1A through8.

FIG. 1A illustrates an exemplary user interface display screen image 100returned when a user accesses the transaction server (not shown) of thepresent invention using the software application resident on mobiledevice 10. Any reference to a specific name for the softwareapplication, such as mobile funding software, is for illustrativepurposes only and shall be generic to the description, and so any namemay substituted without departing from the scope and spirit of theillustrated invention. In the illustrated embodiment, the end user iseither a returning user of the service or is a new member who needs toregister prior to gaining access to the underlying content. One ofordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the user interfacedisplay screen image 100 may be different for a new user and a returninguser. For example, the returning user may be given access to a secureportal to access the transaction server or access to a secure websitethat interacts with the transaction server and the user. The form is notimportant to the implementation of the present invention as long as theinformation is provided to the individual user in a manner that makessense for purposes of maintaining the integrity and security of thedata.

In the circumstances where the user is a new user of the softwareapplication, as shown on user interface display screen image 105 of FIG.2, the user accepts or denies the terms of service and/or agrees ordeclines to be bound by an end user license agreement (EULA). In mostcases, if the user does not agree to the terms of service and/or theterms of the EULA, he or she is unable to utilize the softwareapplication. Accordingly, he or she is transferred out of theenvironment. If the user agrees to the terms of the terms of serviceand/or EULA, as shown in FIG. 3, the user is provided with userinterface display screen image 110 that details the instructions forusing the illustrated embodiment in accordance with the softwareapplication. In the illustrated embodiment, the user must acknowledge insome way that he or she understands the instructions to continue. Forexample, user acknowledgement may be in the form of a “check the box”option that, if selected, reveals a choice that allows the user tocontinue with the next screen of the software application.

In the embodiment of the illustrated user interface display screen image120 of the software application shown in FIG. 4, at some point of themethod of the software application after acceptance of the terms andreading and accepting the instructions, the application returns aregistration user interface display screen image 120 for the new user tosign up and enter pertinent information. In the illustrated embodiment,if the user is a returning user, the fields may automatically populatewith information that was entered previously. If the user is new to thesoftware application, user interface display screen image 120 providesseveral fields 121, 122, 123 for example, that permit a user to enterinformation that the site will save in storage device 35. In theillustrated embodiment, user interface display screen image 120 requeststhat a new user enter his or her first name, last name, email address,and possibly a password, user name, password hint, and securityquestions and answers to name a few. Some or all of this information maybe required to uncover the submission button to gain access to thesecure transaction server 30 that hosts the underlying backgroundapplication modules associated with running the software applicationresident on the user's mobile device; however, any such mandatoryinformation is at the discretion of the site operator and in no meanslimits the present invention. It should also be apparent to one ofordinary skill in the art that this requested information is by no meansexhaustive and may include additional information or the sign-up processmay include more elaborate steps with multiple layers of approvals andclearances, such as, for example, the issuance of a unique useridentification and password. The illustrated example, and the pagesassociated with the software application, illustrate one particularmethod of implementing the present invention but is by no means the onlyway.

Once the new user enters the requested information in user interfacedisplay screen image 120, he or she would select the “CONTINUE” button125. The action of the user submitting the user's information wouldinitiate the process of granting access to the application of thepresent invention. In addition to entering information in menu fields,the software application may automatically identify the mobile numberand mobile carrier associated with the device. In one embodiment, theinformation from user interface display screen image 120—both userentered and automatically identified—is transmitted to the transactionserver 30 over a secure connection on the mobile phone network 5 to bestored in storage location 35. The transaction server 30 would thenprocess the user information and determine if access to the transactionserver 30 is to be granted. In the illustrated embodiment, the approvalprocess is automated at the server level and requires no humaninteraction.

In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 4, returning users may beidentified by the mobile carrier and mobile number (or other uniqueidentifier) associated with mobile device 10 or tablet 20. As statedabove, the fields would automatically populate with informationassociated with the recognized mobile number or unique identifier. Theuser may update or change the information before continuing. Othercheckboxes may be provided, so that the user does not have to re-enterinformation each time he or she returns to user interface display screenimage 120. As an example, user interface display screen image 120 mayalso include a “Forgot my password” option (if one must be provided). Ifsuch option is selected, for example, the user answers a series ofquestions to either receive the information via a text message or via anemail address associated with the account.

FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary user interface display screen image 130returned when the user enters the information required in user interfacedisplay screen image 120. At this point in the process, the user isqueried as to how he or she will receive the refund, cash rebate,remittance, and/or other monies. In the illustrated embodiment, the userselects either the checking account option 131 or the pocket cash cardoption 132. One of ordinary skill in the art will understand andappreciate that any number of additional cash receiving methods may beused that fall within the intended scope of the illustrated embodiment.If the checking account option 131 is selected, user interface displayscreen image 130 returns a number of fields requesting the ABA routingnumber and checking/savings account number. Typically, both will beentered twice to reduce the opportunity for typographical errors inentering the information. The user is then provided with a checkboxoption to save the information. The user selects the submit button 133.The information is then transferred to the secure transaction server 30and stored on storage device 35, if necessary. Transaction server 35 maythen connect with the appropriate location to verify the ABA routingnumber and/or checking account number. If the correct information isentered, the user is allowed to continue with the method associated withthe software application.

FIG. 6 illustrates user interface display screen image 135 associatedwith the illustrated embodiment of the software application. Once theuser has entered the requisite information, he or she will select thedesired product bundle which entitles a fast response cash rebate orrefund as a purchase incentive. The amount of rebate received iscommensurate with the product bundle level the customer has chosen. Inthe illustrated embodiment, the user selects the desired product bundlelevel which entitles a fast response cash rebate or refund as purchaseincentive. Once the user selects the amount, the program returns certainprocessing information to guide the user through the payment processing.The user is then transferred to a third party to process the user'spayment for the selected amount to complete the transaction.Significantly, the payment is processed by the third party paymentprocessor and subsequently billed through the user's mobile carrier. Inthe illustrated embodiment of FIG. 7, the third party payment processorshown in user interface display screen image 150 of mobile device 10 isthe Google Play Store; however, any number of third party paymentprocessors may be used that offer similar transaction processingcapabilities such as Apple App Store, Windows Store, and Blackberry AppWorld to name a few non-limiting examples. If successful, the user isnotified that the cash rebate, remittance, and/or other monies will bedelivered in the manner selected by the user, such as illustrated in theuser interface display screen image of FIG. 8. The user has the optionto continue browsing the software application or exiting the applicationall together. At any point during the previous pages described here andabove, the user may select an instructions icon that will provide ascreen with additional details and guidance as to how to use thesoftware application.

Each potential module or sub-process associated with the illustratedembodiment of the mobile funding software described in connection withFIGS. 1A to 8 is briefly identified and/or described in the flow chartof FIG. 9. At operation 200, the end user reviews the terms of service,EULA and instructions and indicates, using their mobile device 10 ormobile device 20, that they accept the terms and understand theinstructions. At operation 205, the end user enters registrationinformation such as name, address, and email. In addition, thetransaction server concurrently identifies the mobile number and mobilecarrier associated with the connection. At operation 210, the userselects the manner of payment: checking account or prepaid cash card. Inresponse to the end user's choice of checking account in operation 210,the transaction server queries a database to verify the ABA routingnumber entered by the user.

At operation 225, the user selects the rebate amount. At operation 230,the end user is transmitted to a third party payment processor, such asGoogle Play Store for example, to process the payment according to theamount selected in operation 225. At operation 235, if the transactionis successful, the end user is notified that the transaction iscomplete. Finally, at operation 240, the end user is sent the cash orrebate via the user selected delivery option.

While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one ofordinary skill to make and use what is considered presently to be thebest mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand andappreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents ofthe specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The inventionshould therefore not be limited by the above described embodiment,method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within thescope and spirit of the invention.

1-19. (canceled)
 20. A machine implemented method for providing adesired value associated with a product bundle to an end user using amobile device connected to a server over a network, said methodcomprising: creating a connection over the network to exchangeinformation between the server and the mobile device; identifying, atthe server, a mobile phone account and a mobile carrier associated withthe mobile device; executing, by the mobile device, a mobile fundingsoftware; transmitting, by the mobile device, information associatedwith the end user to the server; verifying, by the server, at least aportion of the information associated with the end user; selecting, bythe mobile device, the product bundle associated with the desired value;connecting the mobile device to a payment processor to obtain paymentfor the product bundle, the payment being charged to the mobile phoneaccount; transmitting a message to the mobile device to notify the enduser that purchase of the product bundle was approved; and deliveringthe desired value to the end user.
 21. The machine implemented method ofclaim 20, wherein the desired value is chosen from a group consisting ofcash rebate, remittance and refund.
 22. The machine implemented methodof claim 21, wherein the information associated with the end user is aname, an address, an email account, a bank routing number and a bankaccount number.
 23. The machine implemented method of claim 22, whereinthe at least a portion of the information associated with the end useris the bank routing number.
 24. The machine implemented method of claim23, wherein the delivery method for the desired value is direct depositinto the end user's bank account associated with the bank routing numberand the bank account number.
 25. The machine implemented method of claim24, wherein the third party payment processor is chosen from a groupconsisting of Google Play Store, Apple App Store, Windows Store, andBlackberry App World.
 26. The machine implemented method of claim 21,wherein the delivery method for the desired value is mailing a prepaidcash card to the end user.
 27. A computer system comprising: a computerserver and a machine readable medium storing executable instructionsthat when executed by the server cause the server to perform:identifying a mobile number and a mobile carrier associated with amobile device, verifying the identity of an end user associated with themobile device, receiving the information associated with the end user,verifying at least a portion of the information associated with the enduser, receiving payment information from a payment processor, and if thepayment information indicates a successful transaction, transmitting amessage to the mobile device to notify the end user that the purchase ofthe product bundle was processed; and a mobile device in communicationwith the server in a mobile network communication and comprising: acomputer processor and a machine readable medium storing the mobilefunding software comprising computer readable instructions that whenexecuted by the computer processor cause the computer processor toperform: creating a connection over a network to exchange informationbetween a server and the mobile device, receiving information associatedwith the end user, transmitting the information associated with the enduser to the server, selecting a product bundle associated with thedesired value, connecting the mobile device to a payment processor toobtain payment for the product bundle, the payment being charged to theend user's mobile phone account, and receiving a message that notifiesthe end user that the purchase of the product bundle was processed. 28.The computer system of claim 27, wherein the desired value is chosenfrom a group consisting of cash rebate, remittance and refund.
 29. Thecomputer system of claim 28, wherein the information associated with theend user is a name, an address, an email account, a bank routing numberand a bank account number.
 30. The computer system of claim 29, whereinthe at least a portion of the information associated with the end useris the bank routing number.
 31. The computer system of claim 30, whereinthe delivery method for the desired value is direct deposit into the enduser's bank account associated with the bank routing number and the bankaccount number.
 32. The computer system of claim 31, wherein the thirdparty payment processor is chosen from a group consisting of Google PlayStore, Apple App Store, Windows Store, and Blackberry App World.
 33. Thecomputer system of claim 28, wherein the delivery method for the desiredvalue is mailing a prepaid cash card to the end user.
 34. A mobile phonecommunicably coupled to a server comprising: a computer processor and acomputer readable medium storing executable instructions that whenexecuted by computer processor cause the computer processor to perform:creating a connection over a network to exchange information between theserver and the mobile device, selecting a product bundle associated withthe desired value, receiving information associated with the end user,transmitting the information associated with the end user and theproduct bundle associated with the desired value to the server,connecting the mobile device to a payment processor to obtain paymentfor the product bundle, the payment being charged to the end user'smobile phone account, and receiving a message that notifies the end userthat the purchase of the product bundle was processed.